Circuit controller



July 28, 1936. T. N. EAGLE CIRCUIT CONTROLLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1956 July 28, 1936. T. N. EAGLE 2,049,001

CIRCUIT CDNTROLLER Filed March 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, T N E L CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed March 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 35 y 12 I I I g y 8., 1936. T. N. EAGLE 2 049,001

C IRCUJIT C ON'I R'QLLER Filed .March 10., 51956 4 iSheetts-iSheet 4 Patented July 28, 1936 CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Thomas N. Eagle, Verona, Ill.

Application March 10, 1936, Serial No. 68,121

4 Claims.

This invention relates to circuit controllers, and has particular reference to improvements in circuit controllers of the type which are especially designed to be actuated by the depression of a rail by a passing train to control electrical apparatus such as grade crossing warning signals or the like.

Circuit controllers designed to be actuated by the depression of a rail by a passing train are at present in more or less extensive use, and heretofore have operated very satisfactorily; in fact, they continue to operate satisfactorily when actuated by trains travelling at what have heretofore been considered normal high speeds. However, in accordance with the modern trend toward still higher speeds in all forms of transportation, there have been developed for use on railroads, Diesel or Diesel-electric, self-propelled cars which travel at exceptionally high speeds. Frequently these cars pass over the circuit controllers of prior types so quickly that the same do not remain actuated lOng enough to operate the controlling relays of the electrical devices, usually crossing signals, which are intended to be operated. Consequently, the crossing signals fail to operate with the possibility of tragic results.

Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is to provide a circuit controller of the type to be actuated by the depression of a rail by a passing train which embodies a construction and mode of operation whereby the electrical switch, or switches, forming part thereof is, or are, actuated more quickly, and is, or are, held closed or open, as the case may be, over a longer period of time than heretofore, thereby to afford ample time within which the crossing signal. relays may operate and, consequently, to assure operation of the crossing signals.

Another object of the invention is. to provide a circuit controller of the type mentioned and having the advantages mentioned, which is of exceptionally rugged construction, strong, durable, unlikely to get out of order, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, and of comparatively low production cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrating in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a railway track showing the installation of the present circuit controller.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the installation shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the circuit controller with cover thereof removed.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figures 6 to 8 are cross sections on the lines 6-45, 'll and 88, respectively, of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section on the line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a cross section on the line l0-lll of Figure 4.

Figures 11 to 14 are diagrammatic cross sectional views illustrating the mode of operation of the circuit controller.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 10, illustrating a slight modification of the invention; and

Figure 16 is a detail view illustrating another slight modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 a portion of a railway track comprising a rail Ill supported on cross ties ll.

At a suitable point along the track there is suitably mounted the present circuit controller which is designated generally as A, the same comprising a box or casing [2 which is mounted, for example, at one side of the track between a pair of the ties l l on cross bars l3 secured to said pair .of ties. I

At points spaced suitable distances along the track to either side of the circuit controller A the rail I0 is yieldably supported so that upon passage of a locomotive or car thereover it may be depressed a small amount which, in practice, is about three-eights of an inch. In this connection, 'while any suitable means may be employed for yieldably supporting the rail at said spaced points, a practical and preferred means comprises an arched leaf spring, or springs, interposed between the rail and one or more of the cross ties at each of the aforesaid spacedpoints, the leaf springs extending transversely relative to the rail and resting on plates l5 mounted on the tops of the cross ties. The springs Ill may function normally to impart slight upward bulges to the rail or simply to support the rail so that it may be depressed from a normal horizontally straight condition.

Preferably, they impart slight upward bulges to the rail normally so that upon passage of a locomotive or car over the rail the same is depressed to a horizontally straight condition. Preferably, too, but not necessarily, the cross ties II in the vicinity of the circuit controller are connected together by angle bars or the like l6 so that they are prevented from creeping toward or away from one another.

To one of the cross ties at each of the two points where the rail I0 is yieldably supported there is suitably fastened a suitable bracket I! which serves as a support for the outer end of a related tube or pipe I 8. The tubes or pipes l8 extend parallel to the rail l6 between the brackets I? and the box |2 respectively, and at their inner ends are mounted in and supported by the sides of said box adjacent to the inner end of the latter. They serve as bearings and protective housings for a pair'of shafts H), 9 to the outer end of each of which is rigidly secured a dog 2|] which overlies the flange of the rail NJ at the related point where the latter is depressible.

The shafts l9, l9 extend into the box l2, and on the inner end of each shaft, within said box, is suitably mounted a substantially horizontal, outwardly extending lever arm 2|. Beneath each lever arm and the bottom of the box I2 is an expansively acting coil spring 22 which tends constantly to urge the lever arm upwardly and 'to rotate the related shaft it in a direction to urge the related dog 26 downwardly against the flange of the rail I3. The leaf springs M, are, however, considerably stronger than the coil springs 22. Therefore, the coil springs merely act normally to maintain the dogs in contact with the rail flange. When, however, the rail is depressed, allowing either dog 20 to swing downwardly, the related spring 22 acts instantly to swing the related lever arm 2| upwardly.

Preferably the lever arms 2|, 2| are mounted on the shafts l9, l9 respectively, for adjustment to vary their angular relationship to said shafts. In this connection, and as shown, practical ad- .justable connections between said lever arms and said shafts are afforded by mounting said lever arms for rotation on said shafts; by fastening bracket arms 23 now rotatably on said shafts in overlying relationship to said lever arms, and

by threading screws 24 through said bracket arms into engagement with the topsof said lever arms.

Within the outer end portion of the box l2 and bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom or other appropriate part thereof, is a support 25 comprising, in the present instance, a base 26 having rising therefrom a pair of spaced apart inner and outer bracket arms. 21 and 28 respectively.

The inner bracket arm 27 is provided with a pair of vertical slots 29, 29 and on the lever arms 2|, 2| are suitably mounted rollers 30, 30 respectively, which are disposed within said slots, respectively. Therefore, while said lever arms are free to swing vertically, they are restrained against lateral movements. In addition to the roller 30, each lever arm carries at its free end a second roller 3| which is disposed within the space between the bracket arms 27, 28.

Rotatably mounted within the top portions of the. bracket arms 21, 28 and extending longitudinally of the casing i2 is a horizontally disposed shaft 32 on which is mounted a cam 33 which voverlies the rollers 3|, 3| of the lever arms 2|, 2|, respectively. The cam 33 is mounted on a square .or other polygonally shaped portion 34 ofasaid shaft 32, or is otherwise secured against rotation relative to said shaft. Therefore, when said cam is swung laterally in either direction, said shaft 32 is correspondingly rotated.

The cam 33 is of substantially triangular or fan shape having downwardly diverging sides which, near their bottoms, are curved inwardly as indicated at 35, 35 to points 36, 36, respectively, which normally are disposed slightly outwardly of the axes of the rollers 3|, 3| respectively. From the points 36, 36 the bottom of said cam is inclined upwardly and inwardly as indicated at 31, 31, respectively. Therefore, when either lever arm 2| is swung upwardly, its roller 3| engages the related and overlying upwardly and inwardly inclined lower edge portion 3? of the cam and imparts outward swinging movement to said cam, thereby rotating the shaft 32.

Normally the cam 33 is maintained in the position shown in Figures 6, 7 and 11 of the drawings, with its geometrical axis in a vertical plane including the axis of the shaft 32, by a pair of weights 38, 39, respectively, which may be rotatably mounted either directly on the shaft 32 or, preferably, on a sleeve 39 on said shaft, so that their rotation does not tend to impart rotation to said shaft, and so that rotationof said shaft does not tend to rotate said weights. In either case, the weights are free to swing independently of each other and tend constantly to gravitate to positions in which they rest at their bottoms on stop lugs 40, 46, respectively, rising from the base 26-. of the support 25. The weights are disposed at opposite sides of a vertical plane including the axis of the shaft 32 and each weight is provided with a shoulder 4| which is in engagement with the relatedupper side edge portion of the cam 33 when the cam is in its normal position and the weights are in their normal positions resting on the stop lugs 40, 40. Thus, when the cam is swung in either direction from its normal position, the related weight is lifted and acts to return the cam to its normal position when the cam is relieved of the force by which it is swung. As shown, the weights 38 are recessed as at 42 to accommodate the rollers 3|. Obviously, springs may be employed in lieu of the weights 38 to urge the cam to its normal position.

On the shaft 32, outwardly of the outer bracket arm 28, is pinned or otherwise suitably fastened, for rotation with said shaft, a contact carrier in the form of a plate 43. Carried by this plate is one or more pairs of segmental contact elements 44 for cooperation with one or more related pairs of spring finger contacts 45, mounted on insulating blocks 46 secured to the base 26 of the support 25. The contact elements of each pair are electrically connected together by a. strap 41, or in any other suitable manner, and the respective pairs of said contact elements are electrically insulated from each other. of contact elements 44 controls a circuit in which is included the related pair of contact fingers 45, the controlled circuits being, for. example, the relay circuits of electrically operable crossing signals. In this connection, the circuits in which the contact fingers are included may be either normally open or normally closed. If they are normally open, the pairs of contact elements 44 are suitably shaped or are suitablydisposed relative to each other so that they do not simultaneously contact the related pairs of contact fingers 45 when the shaft 32 is in its normal position as determined by the normal position of the cam 33. If, on the other hand, the circuitsare normally closed, the pairs of contact ele- Thus, each pair ments 44 are shaped or so disposed relative to each other as to bridge the contact fingers 45 when the shaft 32 is in its normal position. In any event, the contact elements 44 preferably, but

.not necessarily, are bolted, or otherwise adjustably secured to the contact carrier or plate 43 so that they may be adjusted to make or break .the circuits in which the contact fingers 45 are included by greater or lesser amounts of swing- .ing movement of said plate 43 in response to cam .efiected rotation of the shaft 32.

As illustrated in Figures 10 to 14 of the drawings, the pairs of contact elements 44 are arranged normally to engage the related pairs of contact fingers 45 and to maintain the circuits closed both normally and when the shaft 32 is rotated in one direction, but to be disengaged from said contact fingers and to open said circuits when shaft 32 is rotated in the opposite direction. Alternatively, and as is obvious, the contact elements 44 may be arranged so that the circuits are opened when said contact elements are swung in either direction from their normal position. On the other hand, Figure 15 of the drawings illustrate that the contact elements 440, may be recessed, as indicated at 41, so that normally they are disengaged from the contact fingers 45a to maintain the circuits normally open and to engage said fingers and close the circuits when the shaft 32 is rotated in either direction. Alternatively, the contact elements 44a may be arranged to maintain the circuits open when the shaft 32 is rotated in one direction and to close the circuits only when said shaft 3?. is rotated in the opposite direction. In short, the particular cooperative relationship between the contact elements and the contact fingers depends entirely upon the nature of the circuits to be controlled and may be varied to suit particular conditions.

The controller is completed by a cover 48 which may be fastened on the box I2 in any suitable manner. For example, there may be fastened to the bottom of the box a stud 49 which may extend upwardly through the cover to have threaded on its upper end a cover clamp nut 50 which may have pivoted thereto a hasp 51 for cooperation with a keeper 52 carried by the cover, the keeper being designed to receive a padlock to secure the hasp, and consequently the nut, against rotation.

Assuming that the parts of the device are in their normal position as illustrated and described, and assuming further, that a car or train is approaching from the right as viewed in Figure 1, the operation of the device is as follows: When the front truck of a locomotive or car reaches the right hand depressible portion of the track, the latter is depressed and permits the related dog 2!] to move downwardly under the influence of the related coil spring 22 under the related arm 2|. At the same time the said lever arm 2! is, of course, swung upwardly, causing the roller 3! carried by said lever arm to engage the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge 37 of the cam 33 and to impart swinging movement to said cam (to the left as viewed in Figures 6 to 8 and 11 1:0 14). As said cam is swung the left hand weight 38 is lifted and rotation is imparted to the shaft 32, thereby imparting swinging movement to the contact carrier 43 and the contact elements 44 carried thereby and causing the relay or other circuit, or circuits, to be opened or closed, as the case may be. The spaced apart relationship of the depressible points in the rail it is such that said points are substantially spanned by a locomotive or car truck. Therefore, the right hand depressible point in the rail is held depressed while the locomotive or car, in its continued travel to the left, passes over and depresses the left hand depressible point in the track. When the left hand depressible point in the track is depressed the same action occurs as recited in connection with the right hand depressible point and the other lever arm 2i rises under the influence of its spring 22. Since, however, the cam 33 has beenswung to the left to the position shown in Figures 12 to 14, upward movement of the last mentioned lever arm obviously does not result in imparting any movement to said cam. On the contrary, the roller 38 on the last mentioned lever arm moves upwardly along the right hand edge of the cam as viewed in Figures 6 to 8 and 11 to 14, to the position shown in Figure 13 and thereby locks said cam against return swinging movement to its original or normal position. Obviously, the last mentioned lever arm is held raised until the truck has passed over the left hand depressible point in the rail. Therefore, the circuit, or circuits, is, or are. maintained open, or 010sed, as the case may be, from the time that the right hand depressible point in the rail was depressed until the truck has passed over both depressible points in the rail. Even in the case of a single car travelling at a very high speed this aifords ample time within which a relay circuit or the like may operate to cause operation of crossing signals or the like.

When the truck has passed entirely over the right hand depressible point in the rail, the related leaf spring or springs l4 operate to elevate the rail and to depress the first mentioned lever arm 2 I. This results in restoration of the roller 31 of the first mentioned lever arm to its original position, as shown in Figure 14, but does not result in return of the cam 33 to its original position because it still is held by the roller 3| of the last mentioned lever arm 2i. When, however, the truck has passed over the left hand depressible point in the rail and the last mentioned lever arm 2i has been swung downwardly to remove the roller 31 thereof from locking engagement with the cam 33, the latter then is free to return to its normal position and is swung to said position by the weight 38, which was elevated at the beginning of the cycle of operation of the device just described. Obviously, the said cycle of operation is repeated by the passage of each truck of a locomotive or car over the depressible points in the rail it Obviously, too, exactly the reverse of the operation just described takes place in the case of a locomotive or car approaching from the left as viewed in Figure 1.

Figure 16 of the drawings illustrates that instead of the upwardly and inwardly inclined edges 3'! of the cam 33 being straight, as shown in Figures 5 to 8 and 11 to 14 of the drawings, said edges may be convexly curved upwardly and inwardly from the points 36, 38 as indicated at 31' 3'1 in Figure 16. This has the obvious advantage that the cam is swung more quickly upon upward movement of either of the rollers 3! into engagement with the related curved edge 31 of the cam.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings it is believed to be clear that the present controller operates instantly and positively and that, when actuated, it remains actuated over an ample period of time to permit relays in the controlled circuits to act, even in the case of a single car travelling at very high speed. It is also believed to be obvious that the controller is of such sturdy and simple construction that the same is not likely to get out of order and that it may be produced at comparatively low cost. Moreover, while only a single specific structural embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is apparent that the same may be embodied either entirely or in part in specifically different mechanical structures within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A circuit controller including a rotatable horizontally disposed shaft, a switch including a movable contact element secured to said shaft, a cam secured to and depending from said shaft and having a normal position in which it is of duplicate shape to either side of a vertical plane including the axis of said shaft, the side edges of said cam being inclined downwardly and outwardly, the bottom edge of said cam being inclined upwardly and inwardly from each side edge thereof, a pair of cam actuators normally underlying said cam and disposed to opposite sides of said plane, means guiding said actuators for vertical movements and holding them against lateral movement whereby each actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge portion of the cam to swing the same from its normal position in a direction opposite to the swinging movement which may be imparted thereto by upward movement of the other actuator, if first actuated, the relationship between said cam and said actuators being such that when the cam is swung by either actuator to a predetermined position the other actuator may be moved upwardly to engage a related side edge of the cam to hold the latter against return swinging movement to its normal position.

2. A circuit controller comprising a horizontally disposed shaft, a switch including a movable contact element operable by rotation of said shaft, a cam secured to and depending from said shaft and having a normal position in which the bottom edge thereof is inclined upwardly and inwardly to either side of a vertical plane including the axis of said shaft, a pair of cam actuator arms vertically swingable on axes at right angles to the axis of said shaft and having free end portions normally underlying said cam and disposed to opposite sides of said plane, and means guiding the free end portions of said arms for vertical movements and holding them against lateral movement whereby one actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge portion of the cam to swing the same from its normal position in one direction and the other actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge portion of said cam to swing the same from its nor mal position in the opposite direction.

3. A circuit controller comprising a horizontally disposed shaft, a switch including a movable contact element operable by rotationof said shaft, a cam secured to and depending from said shaft and havinga normal position in which the bottom edge thereof is inclined upwardly and inwardly to either side of a vertical plane including the axis of said shaft, a pairof cam actuator arms vertically swingable on axes at right angles to the axis of said shaft and having free end portions normally underlying said cam and;

disposed to opposite sides of said plane, and means guiding the free end portions of said arms for vertical movements and holding .them against lateral movement whereby one actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction i with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge portion of the cam to swing the same from its normal position in one direction and the other actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge portion of said cam to swing the same from its normal position in the opposite direction, said cam being of substantially inverted V-shape and hav ing the side edges thereof angularly related to each other so that when the cam is at its limit of swinging movement as effected by either actuator arm the side edge of the cam nearer the vertical plane including the axis of the shaft is disposed to be engaged by the free end portion of the other actuator arm if the latter is swung upwardly.

4. A circuit controller comprising a horizontally disposed shaft, a switch including a movable contact element operable by rotation of said shaft, a cam secured to and depending from said shaft and having a normal position in which the bottom edge thereof is inclined upwardly and inwardly to either side of a vertical plane including the axis of said shaft, a pair of cam actuator arms vertically swingable on axes at right angles to the axis of said shaft and having free end portions normally underlying said cam and disposed to opposite sides of said plane, means guiding the free end portions of said arms for vertical movements and holding them against lateral movement whereby one actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined'bottom edge portion of the cam to swing the same from its normal position in one direction and the other actuator is operable by upward movement and by coaction with the related upwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge portion of said cam to swing'thesarne from its normal position in the opposite direction, and means to return the cam to its normal position following actuation and release thereof, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of weights rotatably mounted on said shaft and respectively engaging portions of said cam to opposite sides of said plane so that one weight tends to swing said cam in the opposite direction, and stops engageable by said weightsto limit their cam swinging movemerits.

THOMAS N. EAGLE. 

